TORONTO – Nikolai Kulemin will miss at least two weeks with a bone chip in his ankle

Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said Saturday the winger blocked a shot with his foot in practice Friday and could have played hurt for a month. Instead, the team and doctors decided to put Kulemin in a walking boot and not take the chance of making it worse.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Carlyle said it was not a displaced fracture, which is why Kulemin would have been able to continue playing. But the Leafs will be without him starting Saturday night in their home opener against the Ottawa Senators.

Spencer Abbott was recalled from AHL Toronto to take his place on the second line with Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri.